Safety, health and culture to be the focus for Blackpool's LGBTQ+ neighbourhood as action plan set to go ahead

An action plan is now in place to develop a village quarter in Blackpool to celebrate the resort’s LGBTQ+ heritage following extensive consultation.

The focus will include making streets safer using CCTV and community policing, and improving the environment with better street lighting and more greenery.

A vision to build on the existing concentration of gay-friendly bars, venues and guest houses in streets in the north of the town centre including parts of Queen Street and Dickson Road was unveiled last August.

Rather than attaching a label to the neighbourhood,  the aim is to embrace the statement that everyone should ‘Be who you want to be’.

There were 269 responses to the online consultation with more than 3,000 comments submitted to a series of questions.

Support for businesses, better access to healthcare facilities and making more use of cultural assets such as the Grundy Art Gallery were all also among the issues raised by the consultation.

The council’s executive is now being asked to approve the action plan when it meets on Monday, January 22.

Tim Allan, chair of the North Shore Business Group, said: “There is a real buzz of excitement that North Shore will gradually be revitalised and a new vibrancy will emerge.

“I want Claremont to feel safe and diverse so that everyone can always ‘Be Who You Want To Be’. It is all about inclusion and equality.

“The action plan will build on Blackpool’s LGBTQ+ history and heritage and will support the health and welfare of our community. It will also give a voice to the young people in our town as they are the future.

“The initiative is designed to support and improve businesses in the area, including both the daytime and night time economy. I hope it will attract significant new investment and will attract more visitors into the North Shore part of Blackpool.

“The time is right to develop the identity of this area further and improve it for the benefit of everyone.”

Coun Jo Farrell, cabinet member for levelling up – people, said: “Blackpool and this area particularly already has a rich history with the LGBTQ+ community and now is the time to develop that further.

“It is so important that people continue to engage with the project and that together we all deliver something better for Blackpool.”